When my kids were babies, picking a shampoo was easy. They barely had any hair, so all I really needed was something gentle that wouldn’t sting their eyes. But I’ve learned that finding a good shampoo once they exit that baby stage is surprisingly harder than it looks.
The tear-free part still matters. Anyone who’s had a screaming child in the bath because suds dripped into their eyes knows that. But kids also have a lot more hair than babies, and, like adults, different hair types. Then there’s the smell. Many kids’ shampoos have sweet, overpowering fragrances that linger in the bathroom (and on your kid’s pillow) long after bath time. At the same time, you want a shampoo your child actually likes, because a fun bottle or a scent they love can be the difference between a smooth bath and a battle. All to say, it’s a balance.
So I set out to figure out what actually makes a kids’ shampoo worth buying. Is “tear-free” a real formula standard or just a marketing claim? What should parents look for on the ingredient label, and what should they avoid? I talked with experts about the best kid-friendly shampoos on the market and what you need to know before you put one in your cart.
The best shampoo for kids
To build this list, I used guidance from dermatologists and other experts (more on what they told me below). That meant focusing on gentle, tear-free formulas made for different hair types and needs, without heavy fragrances. With those criteria in mind, I looked for highly-rated options, along with shampoos that NBC Selected editors have tested and like.
Best overall
I love all of Pipette’s products and use many of them — including their Calming Balm and Mineral Sunscreen. Everything they make is gentle and effective. The shampoo in this duo contains squalane, quinoa extract and plant-based vitamin B5 to cleanse, detangle and soften without sulfates or parabens. It works on all hair types, carries EWG Verified and Leaping Bunny seals, and smells like a tasty orange-vanilla creamsicle.
Best for younger kids
There’s a window of time — usually between the ages of 2 and 5 — when your kid isn’t a baby anymore and needs shampoo that is a bit more powerful than baby shampoo, but still has pretty sensitive skin and can’t handle a formula made for older kids. That’s where Tubby Todd comes in. Similar to Pipette, I am a big fan of Tubby Todd. I gift the brand’s All Over Ointment to every new mom I know because it can soothe any irritation on a baby’s sensitive skin.
Its shampoo is a gentle two-in-one that cleans little ones from head to toe. The mild formula is ideal for younger kids because it won’t irritate their more sensitive skin. And while you could use it on older kids, the formula may not be strong enough to tackle big kid sweat, grime and dirt. It lathers beautifully while softening and moisturizing hair and skin. It’s hypoallergenic and gentle enough for newborns but effective enough for toddlers. I also love that it comes in a lavender rosemary scent or a fragrance-free version. The brand also offers a conditioner to go with the shampoo.
Best for sensitive scalps
This shampoo comes recommended by Dr. Jodi LoGerfo, a doctor of nursing practice and a family nurse practitioner certified in family medicine and dermatology, because it’s hypoallergenic and free of common irritants, making it a nice option for kids who tend to have sensitive skin. “It is extremely gentle and has a light scent that isn’t overwhelming,” she says. “This product also detangles the hair well, making it easy to manage.” If your child has curly hair, Aveeno makes a similarly hydrating option specifically for curly and coily hair, which should help define these patterns.
BETA
Best for shine
This plant-based shampoo leaves hair soft and manageable and has a nice, subtle scent, according to LoGerfo. Reviewers love that it lathers well, unlike alternatives that use gentle cleansing agents, while others say they notice a difference in how shiny their kids’ hair looks after showering.
Most moisturizing
This shampoo, which also comes recommended by LoGerfo, is made with mango seed butter, shea butter, coconut oil and carrot seed oil, plus aloe and glycerin to help keep strands soft and hydrated. One reviewer says it leaves her daughter’s hair so “soft, smooth and manageable,” while another says it lathers really well and you only need a little bit, so it lasts a long time.
Best for detangling
This detangling shampoo makes wash day easier. The plant-based formula is made with plant protein peptides and apricot kernel oil to gently cleanse, soften, and add shine while helping hair look and feel stronger, according to the brand. It works on all hair types and makes bathtime easy, with no tears or tangles. The brand also sells a conditioner separately that compliments this shampoo.
Best for fine hair
Donna Ottley, lead stylist at Yellow Submarine Salon in New York City likes this shampoo from Fairy Tales, a kid’s hair care brand. It is particularly good for kids with finer hair. Here’s why: Fine hair tends to tangle easily and is prone to breakage. This detangling formula contains quinoa protein to strengthen hair, according to the brand. The brand makes a coordinating conditioner as well, which can leave hair hydrated and tangle-free.
Best for coily hair
My kids have tight curls and this shampoo is my go-to to keep their hair soft, hydrated and easy to detangle. I love that it does all of this without weighing down their hair. It’s sulfate-free and tear-free, so bath time is easier, and the shea butter and coconut oil leave a light coconut scent. While some reviewers say they don’t like its slightly sweet fragrance, it has never bothered me or my kids. I also like that it’s made without parabens or phthalates. While my son’s short hair only needs the shampoo, my daughter’s longer strands need more detangling, so I like that it comes in a set with conditioner.
Best for wavy and curly hair
Reviewers say this kids’ shampoo helps reduce frizz in their children’s curly hair, leaving it softer, more moisturized, and easier to detangle. It also works to remove styling products from the scalp without drying out the skin. Shoppers are divided on its fragrance, however. Some say they love it and others say they found the peachy pineapple scent too strong and overpowering.
If your kids are in swim lessons, you’ll want to consider getting a bottle of this shampoo. It repairs damage caused by chlorine, saltwater and other environmental elements while removing any other lingering residue from the hair and scalp, according to the brand. Although it has conditioning elements in it, some reviewers say it doesn’t leave hair tangle-free and they need to use an additional conditioner.
How I picked the best kids’ shampoos
“Children have delicate skin that is thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp. “Kid-safe shampoo is generally formulated with gentle ingredients while adult shampoos can contain harsher ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrances that can irritate a younger person’s scalp, skin, and eyes.” For this reason, when curating this list I focused on the following:
- Gentle ingredients: When it comes to formulas for children specifically, since their skin and scalp are so sensitive, look for mild surfactants (cleansing agents), such as sodium cocoyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl betaine. These agents effectively cleanse the hair and scalp without causing tenderness and irritation, according to LoGerfo. Plant-based ingredients like chamomile, calendula and aloe vera have excellent soothing properties for young scalps.
- Tear-free formulas: Kid shampoos often have a “tear-free” marketing label on them though the term doesn’t have a clearly defined or regulated definition. Generally, when a brand includes this label on their bottle they’re trying to communicate that the formula is free of common ingredients that are likely to irritate a child’s skin and eyes, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick. This includes parabens, silicones, sulfates and harsh surfactants . By finding alternatives to these chemicals, you’re protecting your child’s scalp from adverse reactions, including redness, inflammation and itching, says LoGerfo.
- Age: Although some children’s shampoos are also suitable for babies, this list focuses on formulas that are created for children ages 3 and up. That said, a lot of these shampoos are fine for adult use, too. Since children’s shampoos are essentially just sensitive-skin gentle versions, many work for anyone.
Frequently asked questions
Adult shampoos sometimes have chemicals, preservatives and harsher surfactants in them that can harm the more sensitive skin kids tend to have and trigger scalp irritation. Their epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) is thinner and more permeable than an adult’s, making it more susceptible to irritation and skin reactions, says LoGerfo.
“In general, if an adult shampoo is free of common allergens and irritants, it may be used on kids too,” says Garshick. “That said, a tear-free shampoo is intended to be specifically good for kids as it is designed with their delicate skin in mind, especially around the eyes.”
Two to three times a week is best, according to Ottley. Washing too often can result in drying out the scalp and hair. Your child’s hair type will be important for gauging how frequently you need to cleanse it. Curly hair tends to be more prone to dryness because natural scalp oils take longer to travel through the hair strands, so you may be able to wash it even less frequently. For this same reason, straight hair gets oily faster and you may need to wash it slightly more often, says Ottley.
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Meet our experts
At NBC Selected, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Jodi LoGerfo is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Family Nurse Practitioner certified in Family Medicine and Dermatology at Orentreich Medical Group in New York City.
- Donna Ottley is the lead stylist at Yellow Submarine Salon, a kids’ hair salon in New York City.
- Dr. Brendan Camp is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York.
- Dr. Marisa Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers health, beauty and wellness, among other topics. I am also a mom of two kids — a 5-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy. I have recently written stories on the best gifts for moms and the best backpacks for kids. For this story, I spoke with dermatologists and hair experts about the best shampoos for kids.
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